in70mm.com Mission:
• To record the history of the large format movies and the 70mm cinemas
as remembered by the people who worked with the films. Both during
making and during running the films in projection rooms and as the
audience, looking at the curved screen.•
in70mm.com, a unique internet based magazine, with articles about 70mm
cinemas, 70mm people, 70mm films, 70mm sound, 70mm film credits, 70mm
history and 70mm technology. Readers and fans of 70mm are always welcome
to contribute.

"Oklahoma!" screening & Report of visit to the studios
in Los Angeles

Written by: Fred C. Matthews and Frank Riffle, August 1955. Text
prepared from a vintage papers by Anders M. Olsson

Date:
01.01.2017

The
DP70 prototype installed in the half-scale Todd-AO cinema in the AO Research
Center in Southbridge. Note the screen far right, and the chairs.

We saw TODD-AO production of
"Oklahoma!" at MGM's
Culver City Studio at the special invitation of Mr. Woodbridge, President of
TODD-AO.

The picture was shown on a 60 x 30 ft. curved Raytone Screen. The six track
sound was magnetically recorded on the film for reproduction through 5 loud
speaker systems and auditorium speakers. Projection equipment was a
Phillips
70mm projector containing both 6 track magnetic pickup equipment and a
single track optical pickup built in the projector itself. Picture and sound
quality was excellent. The light source utilized was a Peerless Hicandescent
arc lamp operating at 180 amperes with National Carbon Company Hitex 13.6mm
positive carbon. (TODD-AO, MGM and Fox technicians favor this type of lamp
over the reflector type arc for the wide aperture). TODD-AO, we understand
has contracted to purchase additional projection equipment from Phillips of
Holland. This equipment is to be sold by TODD-AO direct to the theatre. The
package is to consist of the projectors, bases, magazines, lenticular screen
and a portion of the sound reproducing apparatus, namely a 10 channel
preamplifier and associated switching apparatus, reels, rewinds, lenses,
etc.

When the theatre is equipped with a stereophonic sound system it will
naturally require additional power amplification and loudspeaker equipment.
Such equipment is to be purchased from a local dealer either direct by
TODD-AO or by the theatre in which the installation is being effected. In
the event R.C.A. equipment is being utilized, such equipment would be
purchased from R.C.A. dealers. In the event Altec Lansing or Motiograph
equipment is employed, the equipment will be purchased from the Motiograph
dealer.

The Phillips equipment that we saw at the MGM studios was apparently still
subject to further changes. We understand that the techicians employed by
MGM had made a number of mechanical changes in the projection apparatus. It
is believed that TODD-AO selected Phillips as manufacturers of the
projection equipment because they felt that Phillips with its wide flung
offices and representatives could possibly assist TODD-AO in securing motion
picture producers to license under TODD-AO patents.

MGM

MGM plans to use 65mm film in its
photographing processes. They expect to reduce a 65mm negative so that it
might be shown with 35mm projectors, but they also plan to show on a Road
Show basis some forthcoming pictures with a 70mm print. As far as we could
determine from information given us, MGM does not plan to ask any projector
manufacturer to make special projection apparatus so that MGM might show
forthcoming pictures on 70mm equipment. They apparently feel that their
prints can be shown in such theatres as might be equipped with
Phillips 70mm
projectors.

It is to be noted that MGM plans to use 6-track optical sound reproducing
equipment rather than 6-track magnetic sound reproducing equipment utilized
in the TODD-AO process. Therefore, Phillips projectors must be modified to
reproduce forthcoming MGM prints.

Twentieth Century-Fox

Apparently the Hollywood producers are of the
impression that TODD-AO process pictures will secure a tremendous public
response and for that reason MGM and 20th. Century-Fox particularly, are
planning that some of their top flight productions will be first shown with
wide film. Unlike MGM, 20th. Century-Fox is planning the use of
55mm film.
(actually 55.625mm) 55mm film may not be shown on a Phillips projector as
the Phillips projector is designed to project either 35 or 70mm prints. (the
65mm film can be processed so that it may be run on a 70mm projector).* We
do not know it to be a fact, but we understand that General Precision
Equipment Laboratories are making a prototype 55mm projector on order from
20th. Century-Fox.

There is a slight possibility that MGM and other producers might make an
agreement with the technical people at Fox so that pictures issued by all
companies can be reproduced on the same projection and sound apparatus. We
have some doubts as to agreement.

Technicians at 20th. Century-Fox are still very much in favor of the
reproduction of 4 track magnetic print on standard projection apparatus.
They are not in favor of a mixing system. They are asking suppliers of sound
reproducing equipment to make available to theatres not now equipped with
stereophonic sound or mixing devices, a kit consisting of penthouses,
preamplifier and control apparatus which will reproduce the sound on the #2
track of the 4 track magnetic print.

Two manufacturers of sound reproducing apparatus have already agreed to make
available such a kit. Motiograph should have such equipment available within
the next few months. The proposed price of such equipment will be $700. to
$750. per kit not including supervision of installation. The equipment will
be very similar to current mixing apparatus except that the pickup heads
will be capable of reproducing the sound from the #2 track only. As the
pickup heads should have a lesser manufacturing cost, it may be possible for
manufacturers to produce the equipment at the low $700. - $750. figure above
quoted.

As far as we could determine from the interviews we had with technicians at
MGM, 20th. Century-Fox, the Research Council and other studios, it appears
that the studios are thinking of wide film for a Road Show basis only. After
road showing, pictures are expected to be made available on standard 35mm
prints. As the number of theatres in the United States that are large enough
to install 55 or 70mm projection and sound apparatus are limited, it stands
to reason that there will be a very limited amount of demand for such
equipment. As no projection manufacturer can afford the research and
development program and the tooling up of their factories to make 55 or 70mm
projection apparatus in small quantities, it is not believed that such
equipment will be made available to any dealer group.

There is still a wide variance in the thinking of the technicians employed
by the various studios. Paramount will continue to make standard 35mm
Vista-Vision prints but is expected to also make some prints to be shown on
the Century horizontal projector. Incidentally, there are only 14 theatres
in the United States equipped with
horizontal projectors which we understand
were purchased by Paramount and either loaned or leased to the theatres in
which they are installed. Though Century Projector Corporation has made
these projectors available to theatres through its dealer organization, we
do not know of any sales of such apparatus since installation of the first
14.

Motiograph will continue to try to keep abreast of developments in Hollywood
and when there appears a likelihood of sale of a reasonable amount of new or
different type of projection or sound apparatus we will undertake to make
that equipment available. At the present time it would appear folly for us
to make 55 or 70mm apparatus in view of the probable small demand and the
heavy investment required to design and make such equipment.

* It might be well to clarify the 65-70mm film as used by TODD-AO. The
camera uses 65mm and to get the extra soundtrack area they add 5mm for the
release print. The distance between sprocket holes (width ) is the same for
65 or 70mm film.